Our Staff

The Staff at Unity on the River is committed to helping support anactive, enrolled community and congregation.

Rev. Ogun HolderSenior Minister

Rev. Ogun Holder joined Unity on the River in January 2015 as our Senior Minister.

“Thank you Unity on the River for extending this amazing opportunity to partner with you. I am truly humbled and honored. In January 2015 we will embark on an inspiring journey of spiritual deepening, transformation, and fun! I look forward with great excitement to what Spirit has in store for us.”

Rev. Ogun Holder is an ordained Unity Minister [2011]. His many titles include speaker, teacher, author, online radio show host, blogger, musician, parent, social media consultant, and self-proclaimed geek. His first full-length book, Rants To Revelations: Unabashedly Honest Reflections on Life, Spirituality, and the Meaning of God,was published by Unity Books in Fall 2012. He writes the Classic & Contemporary column for Unity Magazine, which features a modern version of texts by classic Unity authors. He has also written for Unity Leaders Magazine, and the Daily Word, an internationally distributed inspirational magazine.

Originally from Barbados, Ogun moved to the USA in 1994 to pursue a degree in Music Therapy. As a Music Therapist he worked successfully with a variety of populations in schools, hospitals, adult day-care facilities, and his own private practice. He is also an experienced church music director, having served multiple Unity communities.A humorous and engaging speaker, Ogun has been invited to speak and lead workshops at churches and spiritual centers across the country. He currently serves as the Senior Minister of Unity on The River in Amesbury, MA. To connect with Ogun, read his blog, and listen to his talks, please visit www.ogunholder.com revogun@unityontheriver.org

Peter Scott StringhamDirector of OperationsPeter (Scott) Stringham has been a congregant at Unity on the River since 2004. He led a well-attended Law of Attraction group at church that met for over four years. Peter served on the board of Unity on the River from 2005-2010 and returned to the board in 2014, serving as Treasurer. He has also been serving on the board of Spirit on the River since 2004, managing the real estate portion of the church, including rental properties that raise funds for church operations. Peter began serving as Director of Operations in March, 2015. Peter is also an accomplished singer, currently performing with Portsmouth Pro Musica and The Overtones, an a capella group that sings at events and senior centers in the New Hampshire seacoast area. peter@unityontheriver.org

Maura Lynch joined us as the Director of Music Ministry in June of 2012. As the owner of the music school Mo-Co Music in Arlington MA for over 10 years, a choir and musical theater director and a K-8 music teacher for over 15 years, Maura was drawn to Unity as a way to combine her skills and share her music ministry in a vibrant, spiritually committed community. A graduate and academic scholarship recipient from Boston University with a music degree in voice performance, post-graduate course work from the Berklee College of Music and the Longy School of Music, Maura has performed contemporary, original and classical music nationally and internationally as a vocalist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, BBC Chorus and Orchestra and the composer and lead vocalist for her original band, Simply Elated. maura@unityontheriver.org

Rev. Annie Houghton, DMinDirector of Pastoral Outreach Ministry

I am delighted, grateful and honored to join the staff of Unity on the River as Director of Pastoral Outreach Ministry. A long time ago I was a minister in a church setting. It feels like I have come full circle. I am home again in a vibrant, loving community whose mission is to “joyous co-create a world of Oneness, peace and harmony.” With great expectation I look forward to how the Spirit will guide the Pastoral Outreach Ministry in manifesting the Mission Statement.

Rev. Annie Houghton, DMin., is an ordained Interfaith Minister who has deep respect and reverence for the many ways people express and practice their faith. It is the emphasis on prayer that first attracted Rev. Annie to Unity. Congregants at Unity on the River really pray. This resonates with her deepest passion, which is to facilitate the process of waking up to the awareness of the Divine (in the ordinary experiences of daily living) and then living in a way that is in alignment with that experience. Rev. Annie has extensive experience in a variety of ministries: teaching and supervising seminary students; offering individual and group spiritual direction, days of prayers and 8-day silent retreats; and providing spiritual care for patients, families and staff in a hospital and hospice setting. People often describe Rev. Annie as an excellent listener, teacher and creative leader who enjoys collaborating with others to address social justice needs. She is a woman of hospitality, compassion and prayer. Her spirituality is contemplative, global and involves the arts.